OMB approves
these standard forms for 18 months subject to the conditions
outlined below. OMB fully expects that over the next 18 months OPM
will consult with other agencies and carefully revise the forms
accordingly. 1. Due to technical obstacles, OPM has not provided
OMB with updated copies of the forms that include the changes that
have been made as a result of public comments and OMB review. OPM
will submit a revised copy of the forms with the agreed-upon
changes to OMB (via a nonmaterial/ nonsubstantive change sheet)
within three months of receiving clearance. 2. OPM will not proceed
with the revised routine uses on the draft forms. OMB approves
these forms on the condition that OPM revise the draft forms to
include the routine uses on the previously-approved version of the
forms (last revised 9/95), rather than the routine uses proposed on
the draft forms. OPM will revise the routine uses for the next
clearance period consistent with #3 below. 3. OMB issued a data
call and invited comments from agencies on the Privacy Act routine
uses included on these forms. Specifically, OMBs request solicited
comment on whether the routine uses sufficiently cover the
disclosures that OPM makes to agencies and other affected parties,
whether these routine uses would negatively affect the business
processes of the agencies, and whether there are additional routine
uses that OPM should consider in future revisions. OPM will work
together with OMB to determine the best process for revising the
Privacy Act routine uses included on the forms to capture the
routine uses across the Federal government (i.e., a working group
involving both OPM and OMB). 4. The general authorization for the
release of information on the SF-86 allows the investigative agency
access to that individuals information for a period of up to five
years. Ongoing access to some of this information for monitoring
purposes is clearly envisioned by E.O. 12968. Within six months of
approval, OPM will submit to OMB a document outlining the legal
authority for accessing the types of information identified in the
general release and the authorized duration for each. Within one
month of submitting this document to OMB, OPM will follow-up by
submitting a separate document to OMB that identifies the policy
rationale for continuously collecting each type of information. 5.
OPM is preparing a credit release for this form to comply with the
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). OPM will continue to work on this
release and will submit it for OMB review with the next full
submission of this package in 18 months. OPM will conduct the
appropriate consultation with the FTC, the agency responsible for
FCRA oversight, prior to submitting the release for OMB approval.
6. Prior to resubmission of this form for OMB approval, OPM will
re-examine the appropriateness of its burden estimates for
completing these forms. OPM will break out burden for each form (SF
85, SF 85P, SF 85PS, SF 86, SF 86A, and SF 86C) according to the
following factors: paper vs. electronic filers, first-time vs.
repeat filers, and any other factors OPM believes to be relevant to
response time. OMB expects that OPM will consult with 9 or fewer
potential respondents (not OPM employees) in preparing a revised
estimate. 7. OPM will consult with affected agencies to determine
whether the addition of an Agency Use Only block for military
records would cause undue burden or whether it would add
significant value. In reporting back to OMB on this issue when the
form is resubmitted for OMB approval, OPM will provide a written
response that includes not only the agencys analysis of this
issue, but also a summary of the outreach conducted on this issue.
8. On the SF 86, Question 20A (Foreign Financial Interests)
requires respondents to report substantial foreign financial
interests. OPM has not provided guidance to respondents on what
dollar threshold would constitute a substantial interest. Absent
a clear, uniform government-wide standard, reciprocity is
jeopardized. OPM will work together with OMB to determine the best
process for setting a threshold for substantial foreign financial
interests (i.e., a working group involving both OPM and OMB). 9. On
the SF 86, OPM will consider revising Question 27 (Use of
Information Systems) so that the question limits respondent burden
and maximizes the utility of the information collected. OMB does
not consider it efficient to list the guidelines in the form of
questions for these criteria; rather we strongly encourage OPM to
tailor the questions to harvest relevant and material responses.
10. OPM will consult with relevant agencies regarding how these
forms are used for HSPD-12 investigations and will, upon
resubmission, report to OMB as to whether any changes/ additions
are necessary for the forms to be used for HSPD-12 purposes.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
09/30/2008
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2007
276,200
0
252,310
366,200
0
314,555
0
0
0
The forms are used to initiate
national security and suitability investigations.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.